Balls.com discusses the rules that govern balls used in many sports around the world. We provide an index of sports that require balls in order to play. For each of these sports, we have researched the rules that govern the size, shape, color, weight, constructions, markings, pressure and other characteristics of the balls. Many of the sports have governing bodies that set these rules – sometimes for very specific levels of play. For example, the basketballs used at the high school level are different than the basketballs used in the NBA. We try to provide information for different levels of play. Other sports are more relaxed and do not have separate rules for different levels of play. From our research, you will learn of balls used in sports played indoors, balls used in sports played outdoors and balls used in sports that can be played in both. Some of the sports are better known as recreational games, while others are viewed as competitive. Over time, we hope to expand our categories to include interesting facts about balls.

How many of you would play a game that involved bowling balls, sledgehammers, and a object of the game to say: The object of the game is to get your ball through all the hoops in the proper order, hit the flags, become a zombie, and knock out all your opponents? This is the game of Mondo Croquet. This game is extremely similar to the classic game of croquet except that you play with bowling balls and sledgehammers and once you finish the course, you go back as a zombie and attack all other players. There is no official size of the bowling ball that is needed to be used, but it must be a bowling ball. References: Mondo Croquet Instructions – http://www.mondocroquet.com/instructions.html The World Mondo Croquet Federation – http://mondocroquet.com/rules/ Photo – www.portlandsports.com

Beer pong is a drinking game that is typically played in college by people of legal drinking age. This game is now played worldwide in tournaments that have specific rules and regulations for the game. The official rules for tournament play regarding the balls that are used, are as follows: Equipment: II. Balls: 40 mm 3-Star Tournament Grade BPONGTM Balls References: Rules – http://www.bpong.com/tournament-rules/ Photo – http://besttoddlertoys.eu/tag/beer-pong-logo

Camogie is an all female sport that is played all over the world but is very prominent in Ireland. Camogie is Hurling but for women. Players to use a wooden stick called a hurley to hit a small ball called a sliotar between the opponents’ goalposts. If the ball goes over the crossbar, the scoring team earns one point. If the ball goes under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper, the scoring team earns one goal, which is equivalent to three points. The sliotar can be caught in the hand and carried up to four steps, struck in the air, or struck on the ground with the hurley. It can be kicked or slapped with an open hand (the hand pass) for short-range passing. A player who wants to carry the ball for more than four steps has to bounce or balance the sliotar on the end of the stick and the ball can only be handled twice while in his possession. Even though this game is hurling, the rules and regulations for the camogie equipment are different: 7. Equipment 7.3. The Sliotar The weight of the sliotar must be 90-110 grams and it must be 21 cm in Circumference (size 4). Sliotars produced by manufacturers that are approved by the Camogie Association/GAA must be used. References: Official Playing Rules – http://www.camogie.ie/files/Administration%20Section/Playing%20Rules%202014.pdf Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurling Photo – www.ulstercamogie.ie

Pesäpallo is a Finnish version of baseball and is considered the national sport of Finland. This game is very similar to American baseball with the one major difference being that the vertical pitching. Pesäpallo is an international sport and has many rules. There are specific rules for the balls dimensions: THE EQUIPMENT 1 § The ball Only balls approved by the PPL may be used in official games. All official balls have a circumference between 215 and 225 mm. The weight of a men’s ball is between 155 and 165 g. The weight of a women’s ball is between 130 and 140 g. The weight of a children’s ball is between 90 and 100 g. References: Official International Rules – http://www.pesis.fi/pesapalloliitto/international_site/rules/ Photo – ls24.fi

Table football or table soccer are other names that are commonly used for the recreational room sports game of Foosball. This game is similar to the game of soccer (football) but is an indoor game that is played with semi stationary characters attached to a horizontal rod in a larger box. The object of the game is to get the ball into the opponents goal; the team with the most points is the winner. There is no standard size for foosball balls equipment but many foosball forums generally have the same standards across the board when it comes to ball sizes. The balls are actually sold in multiple sizes and weights. the ball size that is most commonly used is a 34.5 – 35mm sized ball. Balls that are 31.75 – 32mm are smaller (1.25″) and 38mm+ larger (1.5′) are more commonly used for tournament play. References: Foosball Official Ball Size – http://foosball.com/forum/index.php?topic=2685.0 Photo – www.marketsmithinc.com

Skeet shooting was first created in 1920 to help hunters improve their wing shooting skills. From its popularity this past time has turned into a competitive sport that is even played in the Olympics. The game is played where two targets are shot from different houses that are across a field from each other. The shooter uses their shotgun to hit both targets before they hit the ground. The “ball” in this sport is known as a target that is in a disc form. There are specific rules and regulations for the target discs which are in the National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) rule book. The specific regulations for the target are as follows: SECTION I – EQUIPMENT A. TARGETS Standard targets of good quality measuring no more than four and five-sixteenth (4-5/16) inches in diameter nor more than one and one-eighth (1-1/8) inches in height shall be used. References: National Skeet Shooting Association Official Rules and Regulations – http://www.nssa-nsca.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2010_NSSA_Rule_Book_2010-02-06.pdf James Lissimore Photography – jkliss.blogspot.com

Gateball is fasted paced, team version of croquet that was created in Japan as a recreational sport for young people in 1947. It has been picked up and is now played internationally. The rules and regulations for the equipment of the game has been made into the World Gateball Union Official Gateball Rules. According to the World Gateball Union Official Gateball Rules, the rules of the ball are as follows: Clause 2. Ball 1. The ball used shall be of an even spherical shape with a diameter of 7.5 centimeters (±0.7 mm) and a weight of 230 grams (±10 grams), made of synthetic resin. There shall be a total of ten balls: five red balls and five white balls. (1) The red balls shall be marked in white with the odd numbers ‘1,’ ‘3,’ ‘5,’ ‘7’ and ‘9.’ (2) The white balls shall be marked in red with the even numbers‘2,’ ‘4,’ ‘6,’ ‘8’ and ’10.’ (3) The ball number shall be 5cm in height in principle, and be visibly marked in at least two locations on the ball. References: World Gateball Union Official Gateball Rules – http://gateball.or.jp/jguweb/wgu/officialrules/file/World_Gateball_Union_Official_Gateball_Rules_2011.pdf Photo – www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br

Woodball was invented in Taiwan that has similar characteristics to goal; but instead of putting the ball into a small whole the ball roles through a small gate like croquet. This sport was picked up and turned into a game that is now played internationally. According to the International Woodball Federation’s Rulebook: 1. Ball (1) The ball should be a round-shaped sphere made of wood, 9.5cm±0.2cm in diameter and 350g±60g in weight. (2) Numbers and the Woodball emblem can be marked on the ball. (3) The specifications of the ball are shown: References: International Woodball Federation – http://www.iwbf-woodball.org/en/2-2.php Photo – depositphotos.com

Broomball is a fun alternative to hockey. This sport has the same rules as traditional hockey but they use a stick that resembles a broom and a small ball instead of a puck. The official regulations for the ball equipment of this sport as stated in the La Crosse Broomball League Rulebook is: F. The Ball 1. The ball shall be a size 2.5 with a lace-less molded cover of 32 or more panels. The ball shall be made of leather, synthetic leather, or rubber. It shall measure approximately 47cm. in circumference with a weight of 275 grams when inflated. (Baden 332) References: La Crosse Broomball League – http://webpages.charter.net/lbl/pdf/Broomball%20Rules.pdf Photo – grssc.com